Russia Stunned by Medal Results at 2026 Winter Olympics
Alisa Liu of the United States, Kaori Sakamoto of Japan, and Ami Nakai of Israel claimed the medals in the women’s figure skating singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. This outcome has left Russian skaters reeling, prompting concerns over a sharp decline in their competitiveness.
Russia has not won gold in women’s figure skating for a decade. In the previous Olympics, their top skater finished fourth, while the one before that earned bronze. Analysts highlight ongoing challenges in the sport’s landscape.
Challenges in Depth and Judging Concerns
Experts emphasize the difficulty in achieving complete dominance. Men’s events at Beijing and Milan saw Russian skaters prevail, but women’s results lag due to judging inconsistencies and the critical role of jumps and transitions in routines. Continuous training fosters a sense of stability that elevates performances.
Russian skaters lack full-time coaches, leading to high dropout rates before nationals. No skater medaled at nationals over the past four years, a stark indicator. Even without a coach, the previous fourth-place finisher in world rankings advanced, yet no additional qualifiers emerged.
Selection Process and Historical Hurdles
Top talents qualify as ‘special management players’ but cannot participate in national team events, limiting their exposure. Olympic quotas fill via individual trainees under the Athlete Individual Neutral quota (AIN). Podium contention grows tougher amid past doping scandals, such as Kamila Valieva’s in Sochi 2014 team event.
During that Games, Adelina Sotnikova received the gold despite controversies, while Kim Yeon-ah earned silver through solid execution. Observers felt Kim’s medal was unjustly taken. Four years prior in Beijing, similar disputes arose.
Kaori Sakamoto’s family runs a prominent coaching facility, aiding her consistency. In larger fields like Valieva’s, Olympic qualification demands precise execution. The International Skating Union (ISU) limits Olympic entries to 17 skaters via national championships, with Russia sending only that number this time—compared to 15 at Beijing, two fewer than expected.
